{"id":66788,"date":"2021-12-19T15:42:37","date_gmt":"2021-12-19T15:42:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/12\/19\/russia-sends-nuclear-capable-bombers-on-patrol-over-belarus\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T12:17:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T12:17:14","slug":"russia-sends-nuclear-capable-bombers-on-patrol-over-belarus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/flashpoints\/2021\/12\/19\/russia-sends-nuclear-capable-bombers-on-patrol-over-belarus\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia sends nuclear-capable bombers on patrol over Belarus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MOSCOW \u2014 Russia sent a pair of nuclear-capable long-range bombers to patrol the skies over Belarus on Saturday, a mission intended to underline close defense ties between the two allies amid tensions with the West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Russian Defense Ministry said the two Tu-22M3 strategic strike bombers practiced \u201cperforming joint tasks with the Belarusian air force and air defense.\u201d Su-30 fighter jets that Russia has supplied to Belarus escorted the bombers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday\u2019s four-hour patrol marked Russia\u2019s third such mission in Belarus since last month and took place amid Western concerns over a Russian troop buildup near Ukraine\u2019s border<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moscow has denied harboring plans to invade Ukraine and pressed the United States for security guarantees that would exclude NATO expanding into Ukraine or deploying weapons there. The U.S. and its allies are almost certain to reject Moscow\u2019s demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\t